Pisces is the twelfth and final constellation
of the Western zodiac, symbolised by the two fishes. These are depicted
swimming in different directions and are linked together by a magical
cord. The area of the sky this constellation occupies, has been
associated with matters piscatorial since the earliest times, but
in classical mythology it was linked mainly with the escape of Aphrodite
(Venus) and Eros (Cupid) from the monster Typhon, when by jumping into
a river and assuming the shape of fishes, they were able to escape from their probable fate.

In many ways the constellation of Pisces is astronomically unremarkable, with
even its brightest star too dim to be seen clearly without binoculars and overall bearing
scant resemblance to the mythological creatures it is supposed to represent.
Yet strangely during the modern era Pisces has often been almost the most important
sign of all, since nowadays the point of the vernal equinox has gradually
slipped backwards and under its influence, making the traditional beginning of
the astrological year move into your constellation too. This has been known as the Age of Pisces, has lasted
2150 years and is now drawing to a close. It has been a time of enormous
significance for many religious, spiritual and cultural schools of thought,
in which the symbolism of the fish has on occasion played a vitally important role.

Pisces therefore is a dual sign, not
only in terms of its celestial characteristics, but also the psychology of the mild-mannered, dreamy and romantic subjects born under
its sway. You are mutable by quality and are of the water element,
so in reality you aren’t
the easiest to pin down or to describe in definitive terms. Your nature
is sensitive, receptive, compassionate and diffuse, with a talent for
moulding yourself seamlessly to the company and circumstances in which
you find yourself, just as water perfectly
fills the shape of a glass and will flow either smoothly or with greater turbulence around any
obstacles in its way. It may sound strange that one of
your biggest talents is merging into the
background, but the ability to be all things to everyone is a great
and very useful skill.

Otherwise on a personal level you aren’t really the best at being famous,
widely recognised or well-known and prefer a rather modest approach and presentation
of your abilities. The glare of the spotlight isn’t for you, unless you
have a clearly defined role that you are able to immerse yourself in, and actually,
that you can hide behind. You always remember what it is like to be hurt,
so strive to demonstrate the greatest respect when it comes to handling the thoughts
and feelings of those you truly care about. At times though, a fear of direct
confrontation can lead to untruthfulness, subterfuge and underhanded tactics, with instances
where by wallowing in the sheer hopelessness of your position, you curry favour
and manipulate others in a totally subtle and subversive way.

Otherwise you are impressionable, suggestible and can sense an atmosphere just
as soon as you walk into a room. It doesn’t take you long to figure out
the needs and motivations of those around you, but you might find this difficult
to put into words, or even to understand yourself clearly on a logical, analytical or rational
level.

The trouble is that as the final sign, you
personal make-up contains a small component of all those different characters
who have gone before you in the zodiac, with little space left for you to define an equivalent
personality of your own. You find it easy to identify with other people,
either by placing yourself inside their skin, or by playing naively
along with whatever role a stronger character might seem to have
in mind. In your early years such openness and receptivity probably
landed you in a number of scrapes, but as time passes, the lessons
of accumulated experience help put you in another’s
position, without the fear of compromising your own security or safety
as you travel along.

Your sense of self takes some years to develop fully and the boundaries
of your ego will never be the strongest, especially if your early life
did not provide the solid emotional basis from which to venture forth
and to experience the world. Pisceans are often described as psychic
and intuitive and for many this is undoubtedly true. But the ability
to separate outside influences from your own imagination takes some
time to perfect and to get right, unlike those born under other more prosaic astrological
influences, who are usually able to differentiate much more readily
between the tangible and the imagined.
Your sensitive and almost ethereal inner nature renders a balanced and basically
placid existence as your ultimate ideal, with some time spent alone in quiet
seclusion mulling over your experiences. You will certainly benefit from regular
rest and recuperation, with the chance to recharge your psychic energies and
to replenish those emotional reserves…